Solihull · West Midlands
Extension pulling away repairs in Solihull
Rear and side extensions are common across Solihull, and so is the crack where new meets old. Usually it reflects the two parts sitting on different foundations, and the first question is whether the gap is still opening.
Guide price from£600per junction inc VAT
- Postcodes
- B90, B91, B92
- Population
- about 130,000
- Area
- West Midlands
- Pricing region
- West Midlands
Is West Midlands prone to ground movement?
Solihull, West Midlands: about 130,000 residents across postcode districts B90, B91, B92. Neighbouring towns we cover: Birmingham (7 miles), Kenilworth (9 miles) and Smethwick (10 miles).
West Midlands has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of West Midlands lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. What you mostly find across West Midlands: Victorian terraces, inter-war semis, Black Country industrial housing and large post-war estates.
What to expect when we carry out extension pulling away repairs
Show us the junction
Send photos of the crack outside, the internal corner and any flashing above, with a measure for scale. We give a free initial assessment and an initial view on whether the gap is likely old or still opening.
Find what is moving
An independent chartered structural engineer can inspect, and we can arrange one. A drain survey under the extension, a trial pit at its footing and tell-tale monitoring across the joint are common checks before choosing the repair.
Finish and hand over
Internal corners are replastered, skirtings and coving refixed, and doors or windows in the extension eased where the movement affected them. Records of the repair and any approvals are passed to you.
Is it time for extension pulling away repairs? Common signs
- Daylight or draughts showing through the internal corner joint
- Mastic or render at the joint repeatedly splitting open
- Patio doors or windows in the extension starting to bind
What should you budget for extension pulling away repairs in Solihull?
These are guide prices for Solihull, using West Midlands rates and including VAT. Your written quote follows photos or a survey, and is fixed once the repair is specified.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Junction crack repair with stainless tiesest. | £600 – £2,000 | per junction |
| Movement joint and making goodest. | £400 – £1,200 | per junction |
| Underpinning the extension where needed | £1,000 – £2,500 | per metre of wall |
Repair options we may recommend
Movement joint and making good
Where some seasonal movement is expected to continue, the junction is formed into a proper flexible movement joint with a compressible filler and sealant, so the two parts can move without cracking. Flashings and internal finishes are detailed to suit.
Best for: Minor ongoing movement that does not threaten the structure
Underpinning the extension
If the extension is still dropping because its footings are too shallow or on poor ground, they are taken deeper by mass concrete, beam-and-base or mini-piles. The engineer designs the scheme, and the junction is repaired once the new foundation is in.
Best for: Active movement from shallow footings, roots or soft ground
Rules for extension pulling away repairs in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Your extension pulling away repairs questions
How much will extension pulling away repairs cost in Solihull?
Guide prices for extension pulling away repairs in Solihull start from about £600 per junction, including VAT, on West Midlands rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Solihull?
Yes, Solihull is covered, along with postcode districts B90, B91, B92. We also cover nearby Birmingham and Kenilworth.
Is the ground in West Midlands prone to subsidence?
The West Midlands is mostly Mercia Mudstone and glacial till, with the South Staffordshire coalfield under much of the Black Country, where shallow coal and limestone workings are recorded around Dudley, Tipton and Walsall. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Will my extension need underpinning?
Often not. Many separating extensions are fixed by repairing a drain, tying the junction or forming a movement joint. Underpinning is for extensions that keep dropping because their footings are too shallow or the ground beneath is poor, as shown by monitoring.
What is a movement joint?
A movement joint is a deliberate, flexible break in a wall that lets two parts of a building move slightly without cracking. It is filled with a compressible material and sealed. At an extension junction it can replace a rigid joint that keeps cracking.
Other structural repairs in Solihull
- Chimney stack repairs
- Concrete repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Underpinning
- Roof structure repairs
Extension pulling away repairs near Solihull
Photos of the crack, the internal corner and the roof flashing are a good start; send them about your Solihull home and we will reply with a view.